Please welcome Demitria Lunetta to Dystopian August! Her debut IN THE AFTER is coming out with HarperTeen in Summer 2012. Very little has been revealed about it beyond the fact that it is the first in a post-apocalyptic trilogy set on an Earth overrun by alien-like creatures, so the following interview gives us a few tidbits of what to expect.
Why do you think people are drawn to "dark" stories?
We all have a dark side and post-apocalyptic fiction allows us to flirt with the part of us that truly believes the world could end. It frightens us, not just the cause, (aliens, zombies, global warming, nuclear war, etc.) but the way human nature is explored. All the best "dark" stories are really about human nature - the sinister side of ourselves.
If IN THE AFTER had a theme song, what would it be and why?
A large part of In the After is about silence and I think silence can be as compelling as any song. Any playlist should have a longish, eerie section of quiet...followed by Manson's version of Sweet Dreams. So. Very. Creepy.
What fictional character from another book would Amy chose as her best friend and why?
My main character is fairly anti-social. She connects with other people who have witnessed the same horrors that she has. She would definitely respect Katniss from The Hunger Games, and Nailer from Ship Breaker. In short, characters who know how to survive.
What are your top 5 Dystopian lit recs and why?
I am all about plot and these books deliver.
The Hunger Games (of course) by Suzanne Collins. Love it or hate it, it’s completely engrossing.
Unwind by Neal Shusterman. This is a truly horrifying world in which children can be retroactively aborted when they become teenagers.
The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer. This book is hard to put down, Farmer weaves such an interesting story.
Birthmarked by Caragh O’Brien. I love this whole idea, the privileged few who cannot reproduce and the deprived many who are expected to give up their children.
Shade’s Children by Garth Nix. Sci-fi and fantasy rolled into one, this overlooked book of Nix’s is definitely worth reading.
What's on the top of your to-do list before the world ends? (you know, in case it ends next year)
See my book in print…the world just has to hold out until next summer!
How does your novel stand out from others the genre?
The premise of my novel is fairly unique and features creatures that have excellent hearing, but poor eyesight...they mainly hunt during the day. Amy, my main character must live in a world of silence and only goes out at night.
Thanks Demitria! I'm kinda getting a PITCH BLACK vibe from this one - cool!
Visit Demitria’s website
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6 comments:
Okay, now I'm dying to find out what this book is about.
"All the best 'dark' stories are really about human nature" - YES! That's why I love dystopias so much!
I like her answer to the playlist question and think that any playlist with some uninterrupted silence would be beyond creepy. I also want to find out why there is so much silence in this novel, and have to admit that I am very intrigued by it now. I hope that you get the chance to review it, Lenore, so I know what I can be looking forward to!
This definetly sounds like a really interesting book, since i happen to love aliens. I´m so curious to find out more about it!
Oh, the Manson version IS creepy. Totally gives away the feel of the book. eerie!
Talk about a scene-setting theme-song. Love it though! This has definitely piqued my interest. I recently picked up Shade's Children, didn't think much about it. But seeing it here, I'll have to start it soon.
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